HGF ranked Tier 2 in the regions of Yorkshire & The Humber, West Midlands, North West, and PATMA in The Legal 500 United Kingdom 2019 rankings.
The Legal 500 provides the most comprehensive worldwide coverage on recommended Law firms, Lawyers, Attorneys, Advocates, Solicitors and Barristers. The rankings are based on a series of criteria including providing the most cutting edge and innovative advise to corporate counsel.
HGF Law Leeds - Yorkshire & The Humber
Boutique firm HGF Law is recognised for its IP litigation strength alongside transactional expertise with notable experience in the healthcare and retail sectors. In a recent highlight, the group represented Accord Healthcare in a substantial pharmaceutical patent litigation relating to a patent for anti-convulsant medication. Other work includes advising Rocket Games on its anti-counterfeiting program, assisting the Robin and Lucienne Day Foundation with trade mark and copyright licensing and enforcement, and acting for Superbrand in litigation brought by SuperDry relating to the use of the mark SUPER. Patent litigator Martyn Fish leads the group; his clients include international companies, universities and SMEs.
HGF Law Manchester - North West
HGF Law has a 'strong IP practice' with particular strength in the life sciences as well as retail, advanced manufacturing and education. The 'very effective team' is also praised for its 'strong business acumen'.The 'very responsive' Janet Knowles is a 'good communicator and has a very detailed understanding of how our business works'. Antony Gold heads the firm's retail practice nationally and in Manchester and acts for many of the UK's most prominent retailers. Legal director Michelle Davies is also 'excellent'. The team's clients include Premaitha Health Plc, Specsavers Optical Healthcare Group, the University of Manchester and Halfords Group. Recent work includes advising Novel Technologies Holdings on the acquisition of patented antimicrobial technology and know-how relating to anti-counterfeiting technology.
HGF Law Birmingham - West Midlands
HGF Law is known for its 'depth of knowledge' with a skillset in hard and soft IP. Marie McMorrow advised Blue Gentian on its product XHose which was alleged to have infringed upon Hozelock and Babystyle UK which allegedly infringed upon iCandy World's baby strollers. Also recommended is legal director Tom Nener, who is 'knowledgeable' and 'pro-active' and focuses on contentious IP matters.
Marie McMorrow is also ranked in the 'Hall of Fame'
PATMA - Patent Attorneys
HGF Law's divides its team into electronics, engineering, life sciences and chemistry groups. Sheffield-based Harry Hutchinson is head of electronics, Manchester-based Matthew Dixon is head of engineering, Glasgow-based Gary Wilson is head of chemistry and York-based Kate Taylor is head of life sciences. Key mandates undertaken by the firm included Wilson advising collagen manufacturer Devro on ten new patent applications, Jonathan Atkinson assisting The University of Manchester with its patent applications for graphene and Martyn Fish acting for Accord Healthcare in patent litigation against Research Technologies Corporation in which the client sought to invalidate the supplementary protection certificate behind the anti-epileptic drug lacosamide. Other clients include AstraZeneca, Birmingham University and GW Pharma.
PATMA - Trade Mark Attorneys
HGF Law delivers an 'impeccable' level of service and its team is 'always available', 'responds immediately' and 'acts on instructions at all times of the day'. David Potter leads the team and is an expert in trade mark prosecution, protection and licensing. Marie McMorrow recently handled the trade mark portfolios for Holland and Barrett and Jack Wills. Lee Curtis is an expert in design and trade mark protection, and Jonathan Thurgood is an expert in disputes. Richard Wylie has broad expertise in both contentious and non-contentious issues. Other key names include Stephanie Loeffler-Reading, Claire Hutchinson, Jason Lumber and Geoff Smith.
About Legal 500
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